Meet the 2018-2019 Higher Education Advisory Council

By Salesforce.org October 1, 2018

By: Amjad Ayoubi, Senior Associate Dean, Tulane University
2018-19 Chair, Higher Education Advisory Council

2018-2019 Higher Education Advisory Council The traditional start of the academic year also heralds the start of the new term for the Salesforce.org Higher Education Advisory Council. This year, I’m thrilled to introduce to you 20 returning members and two new members to the Council. They are dedicated trailblazers, committed to helping the higher education Salesforce community.

The Council, unlike many advisory groups, is customer-driven. It’s a working council composed of volunteers who share best practices, answer questions, host events and site visits, provide demos, give product feedback, and much more.

The council does this through formal initiatives, like Higher Ed Office Hours and Higher Education User Groups, sessions at Dreamforce and Higher Ed Summit, webinars and guest blogs. In fact, you can catch the recent Dreamforce sessions on the Salesforce.org YouTube channel to see the latest on what council members are doing with their own implementations.

Engage with Members

Keep an eye out for the blue lanyard and gray backpack at Salesforce events to strike up a conversation with a Higher Ed Advisory Council member!

Because the Council is recognized and supported by Salesforce.org, it’s easy to spot Council members at events. Just look for the signature blue lanyard and gray backpack, both with the council name and logo, and introduce yourself. Council members expect and enjoy these impromptu conversations, so don’t hesitate to say hello.

Of course, not everyone can get to an event, but that doesn’t mean you can’t engage with members. Each month, members host Higher Ed Office Hours, a call-in program where the community can ask questions of veteran users. Each session is an hour-long conversation about all things Salesforce and all are welcome, whether to ask a question or just to listen.

The Salesforce.org Higher Education Advisory Council hosts monthly conference call office hours, as well as this in-person office hours event at Higher Ed Summit 2018.

Request Council Assistance

Members also contribute in less formal ways. Often, they spend time sharing individually with schools, away from public venues. Yes, members are active in the Power of Us Hub and Trailblazer Community, on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn; but they more often connect directly for one-on-one conversations. This is an open invitation to reach out to us!

Higher education advancement leaders

Get Involved

Members also take time to mentor the community, explaining how giving back to peers is a reward, in and of itself, and providing guidance on how to get involved. Since the community grows stronger as more people get involved, the Council provides an increasing number of ways to contribute. If you’re inherently motivated to give back, just ask. You can be sure a Council member will help you find just the right opportunity for you.

The Salesforce.org Higher Education Advisory Council hosts monthly conference call office hours, as well as this in-person office hours event at Higher Ed Summit 2018.
At Dreamforce 2017, the Higher Education Advisory Council met in person. Florence Parodi, Chris Tompkins, and Kalman Sweetwine, having fun with Kim Chouard, Salesforce.org Education Initiatives Fellow and Salesforce Product Manager.

Learn More

I encourage you to get to know the community by interacting with the 2018-19 Council. Take a look at the Council’s web pages on the Salesforce.org site. There, you will see member photos and bios, as well as a short deck on the Council itself. Don’t hesitate to contact us to request assistance. Take time to call into Office Hours. Ask how you can get involved in the community. Engage with members. You’ll meet fantastic people and you’ll get help when you need it. As chair of the Council, I can guarantee that, if you do, this year will only get better.

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